BARNSLEY Council has warned residents about a scam which sees people conned out of their cash through bogus Test and Trace calls.

The scam - involving fake phone calls from someone claiming to be from the NHS Test and Trace service to get personal details - has been reported to Barnsley Council.

Now, the council has urged residents to remain vigilant to avoid becoming a victim of the scam.

A spokesperson for Barnsley Council said: “If you have been in close contact with someone who has Covid-19 and need to self-isolate or have tested positive for Covid-19, you may get an email, text or phone call from NHS Test and Trace.

“The text messages will come from NHS tracing, and calls will come from 0300 0135000.

“If your child has been in close contact with someone in school who has Covid-19 and needs to self-isolate, you will get an email, text, letter or phone call from their school about this.

“We urge you to remain vigilant, be cautious and listen to your instincts.

“Don’t be afraid to hang up on a caller, bin a letter, delete an email or shut the door.

“If you think you’ve been scammed, tell your bank and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.”